How Poor Posture Can Make You Look Older

Poor posture doesn’t only cause back pain, rounded shoulders, and sore muscles. It can also mess with your skin or lead to premature wrinkling and sagging. Constantly slouching or craning your neck forward can speed up aging and make you look older than you actually are. 

Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore dives a little deeper into the effects of poor posture on your skin and appearance. We also provide treatments worth considering if you notice signs of aging or sagging due to aging or poor posture. 

Turkey neck

While turkey neck is mainly caused by loss of skin elasticity and weakened neck muscles, poor posture can exacerbate it. This term, which is used to refer to loose, sagging, or wrinkled skin on the neck (that may start to resemble a turkey’s wattle) is a sign of aging in both men and women. 

Repeated movements due to the use of electronic devices can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, resulting in wrinkles and sagging neck skin. Constantly craning the neck in a downward motion can also create pressure that can lead to “tech neck”. This refers to any form of pain on the neck and shoulder, headaches, and stiffness due to looking down at a screen for too long. 

What can help: Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) is a US FDA-cleared procedure for naturally lifting the skin on the face and neck. Using time-tested micro-focused ultrasound energy, it penetrates the skin’s deeper layers and triggers new collagen production. MFU-V Singapore treatments help lift the skin on the neck and chin, as well as tighten the jawline. 

Double chin

Genetics, weight gain, and aging aren’t the only ones that can cause a double chin. Poor posture can also contribute to its formation, as frequently slouching down or looking down at your phone can cause the muscles in your chin and neck to weaken, which can then lead to sagging. 

The aging process, moreover, makes it more likely for a double chin to form. As the production of collagen and elastin declines with age, the skin can start to sag and the fat can shift downward, creating a fuller appearance under the chin. 

What can help: CoolSculpting Elite is a US FDA-cleared and CE-marked fat reduction procedure, designed for areas with fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. It uses fat freezing or controlled cooling temperatures that target and kill fat cells. CoolSculpting Elite has an applicator designed for small areas like the chin and can deliver up to 27% fat reduction in a single treatment. 

For further reading: Debunking 5 Myths About Double Chin Removal

Jowls or sagging skin

Aging is the main cause of jowls or the droopy skin that occurs on the lower portion of the face. These lead to sagging around the cheeks and along the jawline, which may change the face of your shape, as well as contribute to turkey neck or double chin. Poor posture or looking down at your phone constantly is a risk factor for jowls and exacerbates their appearance. 

There is also a thing called smartphone face where you may notice early signs of jowls. This doesn’t just lead to a less defined jawline, but also betrays your age. Constantly looking down at any device activates and shortens the platysma muscles in your neck, resulting in sagging. This can also pull on your facial tissues, leading to more loose skin on the lower areas of the face.

What can help: Titan Skin Tightening is a US FDA-cleared for non-invasive skin lifting and tightening. Using safe, infrared light, it gently heats the dermis well below the skin surface to trigger collagen production. Titan can tighten and enhance skin tone on the face, chin, jawline, neck, and other areas of the body.  

We at Cutis also have the NIR Cinderella Skin Tightening, which is a non-invasive treatment for tightening and contouring the skin. It uses a high-power light source in the near-infrared spectrum to heat the deeper layers, which repairs skin cells and creates collagen. It can reduce facial laxity, lines and wrinkles, loose skin, and cellulite appearance. 

For further reading: Say No to Neck Neglect: Aesthetic Treatments for Your Neck

Improving your posture

While you cannot completely avoid these signs of aging, you can reduce their progression or appearance by maintaining good or improving your posture. Some tips that can help include:

• Staying active most days of the week.
• Trying routines or exercises that focus on mindfulness or body awareness such as yoga, tai chi, and Pilates.
• Holding your phone at an eye level when using it.
• Staring at your phone and other devices a little less.
• Doing simple stretching exercises daily to improve your posture.
• Not crossing your legs when seated (this can negatively affect your posture and may change spine alignment over time)
• Taking breaks from sitting too long.

Book a consultation

If you already notice sagging, jowls, and wrinkles due to aging or poor posture, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore to learn more about our non-surgical anti-aging treatments and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors.